Khadijah

Army, 2001-2010

“My life is a blueprint for someone else’s.” Meet the woman of the hour, Khadijah.

Until she had her first son in 2011, Khadijah worked as a Food Service Inspector from 2001-2010. Balancing life with a new baby, in 2012 she began working for Charleston County School District as the Food Service Manager. With nine years of working for the Army under her belt, Khadijah is not not one to bruise easily. Her tough skin is what protected her and her kids when life got rocky. Khadijah was studying at ITT when it closed down, preventing her from finishing her degree. Followed by a brutal divorce and a period of homelessness, Khadijah sought help from the local organization One80 Place. Here, at a time she needed it most, she was introduced to the Sustainability Institute.

For Khadijah, the Sustainability Institute gave her hope. It gave her a platform for being sustainable, a way to support her three kids, and a new passion for design and construction. It gave her something to look forward to, and most importantly, it gave her an opportunity. With newly acquired skills and certifications such as the Duct and Envelope (DET) Certification, Khadijah is ready to take on the world. The Sustainability Institute gave Khadijah a helping hand to get on her feet, and now that she’s standing, there’s no stopping her from running. Quite truthfully it sounds like she’s planning a marathon as she described how her newfound passion for construction has blossomed into a dream to start her own design firm. And if you’re not already blown away by this wonder woman’s achievements, add to the list a unique passion for the art of “caulking”, a weatherization technique used for sealing a house. When the phrase “I just LOVE caulking!” arises in any conversation, you know it’s no ordinary person you’re talking to. Poetically aligned with her dreams of opening a design firm, Khadijah’s firm belief that her “life is a blueprint for someone else’s” embodies her truest passion; to help guide those who have faced the same challenges that she has. Khadijah’s time with the Sustainability Institute has empowered her to empower others. Now that’s powerful.

About krichards

Katherine Westmoreland Richards holds a dual-degree for International Business and Management and published an acclaimed research thesis on energy in the Netherlands. Katherine's passion for energy continued as she worked in Ecuador to help create sustainable business solutions for a reserve in the rainforest. Katherine now works on development at The Sustainability Institute and uses her experience and passion to continue to develop a sustainable Charleston.